|
|
|
Banner file photo
Actor Alan Cumming was one of the previous honorees at the Provincetown International Film Festival. |
|
Film fest in financial straits
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN — A combination of economic challenges and bad luck is pushing the Provincetown International Film Festival into the red, possibly causing significant changes in how the festival will be run going forward.
Higher expenses, lower revenue and a condemned Town Hall have created a perfect storm of challenges for the film fest, slated to open its 10th annual festival on June 18. Executive Director Gabby Hanna said this week that the denial of some much-needed grant funding as well as higher costs associated with the 10th anniversary festival, is expected to result in a significant loss for the event.
“There is a perception out there that we make a lot of money. But we don’t. Last year we lost $10,000. This year we project to lose $50,000. That would be the end of us,” Hanna said.
The budget for the five-day international event, which drew between 9,000 and 10,000 film lovers to Provincetown last year, is a little over $300,000. Fred Magee, president of the festival board of directors, said a $10,000 grant application from the National Endowment for the Arts — which the festival was awarded twice before, was turned down. In addition, the festival’s largest venue, the Provincetown Town Hall auditorium, can’t be used this year because structural deficiencies have closed the venue to all events.
“We lose a significant amount of revenue by not having Town Hall available,” he said. “We have the high school as a backup but we’ll lose about 200 seats per showing. Things like that have an impact.”
The festival traditionally has funded its budget through ticket sales, which account for about one-third of the revenues needed, plus grants, corporate sponsors and private donations. Personal donations have brought in about $15,000 this year, five percent of the annual budget.
“There is a popular misconception the festival doesn’t need money. That has certainly affected our ability to get grants. Coupled with bad economic times, it has put us in a bigger hole than anticipated,” Magee said. “It’s never been that deep in the hole ever.”
Costs have risen as well, as the festival board of directors moved towards establishing a more professional organization by creating a few paid positions and stepping up marketing efforts. In addition, festival organizers have branched out by producing events throughout the year, including film showings in partnership with The Provincetown Theater, Willie’s Gym in Eastham and the WHAT theater in Wellfleet.
“We have professionalized a number of key operations, and that costs money. This will be the best festival we’ve ever had. But it’s also the most expensive,” Magee said.
Unless new sources of revenue can be found, the festival board of directors will be forced to rethink how it operates. At a minimum, Magee said, a significant loss this year will force the board to “take a very hard look at whether the festival is sustainable in its present form.” Some options might include expanding the festival to be a Cape-wide event, instead of holding it only in Provincetown with one event at the Wellfleet Drive-In. Magee estimated that the festival brings approximately $650,000 into town during the festival weekend.
Other options might include scaling back the festival, expanding the size of the board of directors to increase fundraising, or purchasing a building in order to show films year-round.
But in the short term, festival organizers are hoping that private donors will increase their sponsorship of the event this year. Because of the loss of the Town Hall venue, ticket sales for many of the festival showings and events will be sold out, Hanna said.
“We have limited growing potential in Provincetown. We’re almost maxed out [in attendance]. So our only way to meet our budget is through private, individual donations,” she said, adding, “[The festival] is such a positive thing for Provincetown. We get so much press coverage. We bring people here in the June shoulder season. We’re gaining a worldwide reputation.”
This year, director Quentin Tarantino is expected as the Filmmaker on the Edge honoree.
psowers@provincetownbanner.com
|
Special election candidates weigh in
Fireworks to reignite?
Daily updates shifting to Wicked Local websites
School lunch menus
Outer Cape Worship Services
|
|
|
|
|
May 22nd, 2008